Other News In Brief

Night Time Works Planned To Refurbish Water Mains At Cherry Island

Transport NI has planned night time works to refurbish water mains and sewer relaying at Cherry Island and Johnstons Bridge South on the Cornagrade Road.

The work is scheduled to start on Monday 25 April.

The advance works, which are expected to last for three weeks, will be carried out ahead of the proposed main bridge refurbishment scheme due to begin in July.

TransportNI has scheduled the work to be carried out nightly, Monday to Friday, between 7pm and 7am. During these hours traffic will be reduced to one lane only and will be controlled by manually operated traffic signals.

Drivers and pedestrians are asked to approach the works with care, expect delays and consider using alternative routes where possible.

Confiscation Order Against Belfast Woman

The Social Security Agency Financial Investigation Unit has obtained a Confiscation Order to the value of £11,873 against a woman at Belfast Crown Court.

The defendant, Loretta Nolan, claimed Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance on the basis of being unfit for work and having no savings or other source of income.

During her claims to benefit, the defendant failed to declare that she had been working. Due to her failure to report her true circumstances she received £11,845 in benefits she was not entitled to over a two-year period.

The defendant on 13 October 2015 pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to declare her true circumstances.

At the confiscation hearing the Court granted a Confiscation Order in the amount of £11,873 with a seven month prison sentence in default of non-payment. She has until 13 July 2016 to satisfy the order.

Man Jailed For Benefit Fraud

A man has been jailed for one month for claiming benefits he was not entitled to at Belfast Magistrates' Court.

Barry McGovern claimed Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £1,338 while failing to declare employment. He was given a one month prison sentence.

He is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

(CD/JP)